Saxophone mouthpiece



July 22, 1930. P.` ARTHUR SAXOPHONE MOUTHPIECE original Filed May 17,1922 Patented July 22, 1930 UNITED STATES PAUL ARTHUR,

PATENT OFFICE SAXOPHONE Mournrmcn Original application illed Bay 17,1922, Serial No. 561,570. Divided and this application led April 2,

` 1923. Serial No. 629,237.

This application is a division of my appli` cation, Serial No. 561,570,filed May 17 A 1922, for saxophone mouthpieces and method of makingsame. The claims in said application are limitedto the method of Vmakinga saxophone mouthpiece.

l in two pieces and joined together so as to provide a. smooth interiorpassage through said pieces, and a binding'covering said inner pieces.

`A still further object is the provision of lo a mouthpiece forsaxophones, andthe like,

having a metallic lining made up of parts which maybe die castings, or,one part may be formed as a die casting and the other part as anautomatic turning machine product. f

Another obj ect is theprovision of a device of the character mentionedhaving a metallic lining and a phenolic condensate 'coverin such as thatcommercially manufacture under the trade name bakelite on said linlng.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Fig. 1 is aside view of a mouthpiece embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with they reed and ligature removed.v

In the kconstruction of mouthpieces for ui saxophones and other similarwind instru- I form the central metallic part of the 0F WISCONSIN,ASSIGNOR TO FRANK BOLTON & C0., 0F kELKHOBN, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0FILLINOIS f f' mouthpiece intwo pieces. Upon reference to Fig. 2 it willbe apparent that the opening 5 through the mouthpiece is circular incross;- section from the end 6 to a portion adjacent a line 7 near the4central part of the mouthpiece. This being so I find a metallic part 8can be formed on an automatic screwy or turning machine, not shown, butin general use invmachine shops. This part`8 ma also be a die casting.The opening 5 is gra ually taperingfrom the end 6 to a point adjacentline 7 and then flaring in somewhat partially spherical form.

The'wind passage of the other part 9 of the lining is not cylindrical incross-section, except for a short distance adjacent line 7, and in Viewof this part 9 could not easily be made on an automatic screw or turningmachine and is therefore preferably made by die casting. Any desirablemetals may be used for these linings. I find that a nickel base whitemetal provides a suitable material for making the part 8 when turned. Asuitable material for making the die castings is "a tin base metalbecause this will take a good nickel or silver polish which will remainclean because of the absence of oxidation, although any other desirabledie casting metal may be used.

The parts 8 and 9 are preferably arranged so as to have a'threaded'connection 10 between them for holding such parts in rigid conditionwith respect to each other. The joint 7 is arranged so that the adjacentshoulders of parts 8 and 9 iit tightly together so that when the partshave been put together and polished the surface is quite smooth acrossline 7. This makes a construction which operates equally as well as asolid piece construction. In a conventional construction the curvedparts at both sides of line 7 must be cut out with hand tools and greatcare must be used to insure cutting these part-s so as to get therequired tones in the instrument. lhere part 8 is formed on an automaticturning machine the parts will be duplicates of each other, and wherethe parts 8 and 9 are die cast they will also be duplicates and no handfinishing will be necessary to afford a proper wind passage throughthese parts when fitted together in the mouthpiece.

The part 8 is provided with a groove 11 and there is a small groove 12between the outer parts of the parts 8 and 9 adjacent the threads 10.After the parts 8 and 9 have been screwed together so as to bring theirshoulders at line 7 tight, a phenolic condensate, rubber, celluloid, orother material is moulded around said parts 8 and 9 with portions ofsaid moulded parts entering into the annular grooves l0 and l1 so thatthe mouthpiece consisting of the parts 8 and 9 andV moulded covering 13is in efect one solid integral mass. The parts 10 and 11 help to holdthe covering 13 tightly in position on the parts 8 and 9.

In the drawing, I have indicated a band or ligature 14 having thumbscrews 15 for clamping the latter' around the mouthpiece. This ligature14 holds the reed 16 in proper position over the opening of themouthpiece.

It will be apparent that the sizes and crosssections of t-he windpassage 5 extending through the mouthpiece may be varied to suitdifferent instruments. An essential part of my improvement is theproduction of the metallic lining of the mouthpiece in such a mannerthat it can be produced at low cost and so that accuracy and uniformityof the product will always be had.

Bakelite, a. subst-ance now in general use provides a very eiiicientmaterial for the covering material 13. It is easily moulded in properposition over the metallic lining and has very distinct advantages overhard rubber and many other substances used heretofore for similarcovering material. Bakelite will not leave a taste in the players mouthin use. It will not warp with the changes of temperature and is verydurable. It further possesses the advantages of not being easily broken,chipped or cracked.

Bakelite is described under its trade name bakelite in the Journal ofIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry, volume 8, No. 1, of May, 1916, andin C. T. Kniggetts Chemical Encyclopedia, 3rd editionY` page 47. The

process of manufacture is described in detail in U. S. Patent No.942,809.

It will be apparent from Figs. 4 and 5 that the metal lining part 9 hasa plane side at opening 17 upon which the reed 16 is held by theligature. The covering 13 has a plane portion also adjacent the planeportion of member 9, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5, upon which the rearend of the reed 16 engages, as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. Theline 18 indicates approximately Where the plane part of the metal part 9engages the plane part of covering 13, as just mentioned. In the formshown, the reed is of substantially the same width as the plane surfacesjust mentioned, but it will be understood that the relative widths ofthe reed and these surfaces may be varied as desired. An importantfeature is that the plane surface cooperates with the ligature 14 tohold thc reed in proper position over opening 17 so that the desiredmusical tones can be produed.

I claim 1. A saxophone mouthpiece comprising two hollow inner portionsrigidly connected together with a smooth wind passage therethrough,there being irregularities in the outer surfaces of said hollow innerportions, and a covering enclosing said hollow inner portions with partsof said covering extending into the irregularities of said surfaces.

2. A saxophone, and the like, mouthpiece comprising two hollow memberswith a wind passage therethrough and parts of the hollow membersadjacent the wind passage fitting tightly together, there being portionsat the outer sides of said hollow members spaced apart, and a mouldedcovering disposed around said hollow members with portions thereofextending in and fitting said space between the hollow members.

3. A saxophone mouthpiece comprising a hollow metallic portion having abore therethrough with all cross-sections circular; and a separatelyformed metallic portion threaded to the first-mentioned metallic portionand having a passage therein communicating with the passage in thefirst-mentioned metallic portion with part of the passage in thesecond-mentioned metallic portion nonround in a transversecross-section.

4. A saxophone mouthpiece having an inner lining comprising a hollowmetallic portion having a bore therethrough with all cross-sectionscircular; a metallic portion threaded to the first-mentioned metallicportion and having a passage therein communieating with the passage inthe first-mentioned metallic portion with part of the passage in thesecond-mentioned metallic portion nonround in a transversecross-section; and a memberenclosing said metallic portions.

n 5. A saxophone mouthpiece embodying in its structure a metallic liningcomprising an automatic turning machine product; and a die cast productri idly attached to the automatic turning macineiroduct, said turningmachine product and ie cast product having openings adapted to bealigned when united. f

6. A saxophone mouthpiece embodying in its structure a metallic liningcomprising an automatic turning machine product; a die cast productrigidly attached to the automatic turning machine product; and a mouldedcovering around said lining securing the aforesaid mentioned partstogether, said turning machine product and die cast product havingopenings adapted to be aligned when united.

7. A saxophone mouthpiece comprising an inner metal member having anopening therethrough, said opening being circular at all cross-sections,tapered from both ends to a point intermediate said ends; a Second metalmember having an opening therein with an irregular'cross-sectionthroughout the greater part of its length and said opening registeringwith the opening in the first-mentioned member; and a threadedconnection between said members.

8. A saxophone mouthpiece comprising two members one having a portiontelescoped into the portion of the other member; a threaded connectionbetween said telesco ed portions securing said members toget er, therebeing a peripheral groove in one of the members at the adjacent end ofthe other member; and a moulded covering enclosing said v`members anddisposed in said peripheral groove.

9. A saxophone mouthpiece embodying in its structure a metallic liningcomprising two separately formed metallic parts attached together; and acovering of moulded material enclosing said parts.

10. A saxophone mouthpiece embodying in its structure a metallic liningcomprising two separately formed metallic parts connected together andhaving a wind passage extending through both of said metallic parts, anda covering of a moulded phenolic compound enclosing said metallic partsand rigidly securing them together.

11. A mouthpiece for wind instruments comprising a hollow metal shellyand a covering for the exterior of said shell made of a phenoliccondensate.

12. A mouthpiece for a musical wind instrument comprising a hollowmetallic shell and a covering for the exterior of said shell comprisinga phenolic condensate permanently moulded upon the outer surface of saidmetallic shell.

13. A mouthpiece for a musical wind instrument comprising a hollowmetallic shell, the opening within said shell having an enlarged portionbetween the ends thereof and a covering for the exterior of said shellmade of phenoliccondensate moulded upon the outer surface of said shell.

14. A mouthpiece for a musical wind instrument comprising a metallicshell having a wind-passage therethrough, provided with an opening atone end of said shell for connection with the instrument and a lateralopening adjacent the outer end of said shell for registration with areed, said wind passage having an enlarged portion between said openingsand a phenolic condensate covering on the outer surface of said shell.

.15. A mouth iece for a musical wind instrument comprising a metallicshell having a wind passage therethrough provided with a tubular portionat one end for engaging a wind instrument and a lateral opening adjacentthe opposite end for registration with a reed, said wind passage beingprovided with an enlargement between the ends thereof, the wall of saidenlargement havin a gradual taper joining the Wall of said tu ularportion to avoid abru t projections within said wind passage, an acovering of nonmetallic material on the outer face of said metallicshell.

16. A mouth piece for a musical wind instrument comprising a metallicshell having a wind passage therethrough provided with a tubular portionat one end thereof and a lateral Opening adjacent the opposite endthereof, said wind passage being enlarged between said tubular portionand said lateral opening, the walls of the enlarged portion of saidpassage being gradually tapered to avoid prominent projections and acovering of phenolic condensate permanently moulded on the outer surfaceof said metallic shell.

17. A mouthpiece for wind instruments comprising a hollow core member ofmetal, and an outer covering of non-metallic material fitted about saidcore member and adhered to the surface thereof, said core kmember havingflanges thereon overlying the edges of said covering.

18. A mouthpiece for a wind instrument comprising a hollow core memberof cast metal provided with a thickened portion forming a reed seat, anda phenolic condensate covering for said core member fitted upon,conforming and adhering to the outer surface thereof and having theedges abutting against the side edges of said reed seat.

19. A mouthpiece for wind instruments comprising a tubular lining ofmetal, said lining being bulged outwardly between the ends thereof, anda covering of non-metallic material formed about said lining andcompletely encircling a portion thereof.

20. A tubular metal lining for a wind instrument mouthpiece shaped toform a cavity Within the lining having an enlarged portion between theends thereof, said lining having a laterally directed opening at one endCil PAUL ARTHUR.

